Calculating the Capability of a Corrugated Box to Hold the Weight

The ability of a box to carry certain amount of weight is not something which is usually on the top of the mind of the manufacturers and customers. But the matter of fact is that it is really important to know how much weight a corrugated box can hold. This simple calculation doesn’t only help a business in using right box for the products but it can also assist well in reducing the packaging and shipping costs.

A typical corrugated box is made of three layers; i.e. the inner liner, the outer liner, and a fluted layer between these two liners. The flute gives the corrugated box its strength while liners keep the sheet together. The box made of corrugated sheets is strong enough to hold bigger and massive items.

When we talk about the strength of the box, the first thing to be taken into consideration is the material from which the box is made. In this scenario, density plays a huge role. If there are more walls of a corrugated box, the box is going to be stronger.

It is worth mentioning that all boxes are not created equal. It is true from the perspective of inner and outer dimensions of the boxes. Similarly, the ability of a box to carry weight also varies. In this scenario, the first thing to mention is the length of the box. Then the width and depth are measured.

The box generally maintain a proportion of 2:1:2 (L:W:D). However, the boxes with other dimensions are also available. Such boxes are ideal for the products which are not of standard sizes.

No matter what the size of the box is, its ability to carry weight is measured through a special test which is called edge-crush-test (ECT). “ECT is a measure of the compressive strength of corrugated board. It is measured by compressing a small segment of board on edge between two rigid plates perpendicular to the direction of the flutes until a peak load is established.”

Using the ECT-rated boxes is quite beneficial for your business in general. You will be able to reduce the amount of packing materials to secure the products because the quality of the box will ensure maximum protection. It also means that there are going to be less energy requirements and reduced pollution.

While buying boxes for the packaging of your products, make sure that there is the manufacturer’s certificate printed on the bottom of the box. There will also be a number corresponding to the “Edge Crush Test”.

Why Is It the Right Choice to Pick Eco-Friendly Packaging?

In this day and age, we hear a lot about going green. While industrial revolution truly brought much needed progress, its adverse effect on the environment has now started taking its toll. Among other factors that are making this environment contaminated, the existence of packaging wastes has turned out to be one of the most serious concerns.

With more companies getting into the business of production, the requirement of packaging supplies has also increased in a drastic manner. In not-so-far past, the packaging was entirely made of the materials that contributed a lot in contaminating the environment. But the good news is that we now have sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions available. These solutions are created for the purpose of saving the environment.

Now, we are going to talk about why you need to stick with the eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Biodegradability

Green packaging has its long term benefits for the environment in a number of ways. The green packaging can be either sustainable or degradable. Degradability means that you can discard the packaging material without being too much concerned about its impact on environment due to its ability to degrade without contaminating the environment. And sustainability is another aspect which can be quite helpful here. After the product is used up and the packaging is free, it can be used for other purposes. It can also be recycled to be used again for the product packaging.

Ease of transfer

Good thing is that traditional packaging requirements can be fulfilled quite easily with the help of sustainable packaging. Whether you are packaging cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, or automotive parts, you can consider using eco-friendly packaging products.

Improve brand image

By using eco-friendly packaging options, you will not only contribute in saving the environment but you will also be able to build better brand reputation among your customers. Your customers will see you as a brand which is quite concerned about the environment. This way, you will not only be able to make your existing customers loyal but you will also be able to attract new customers.

Decrease Carbon Footprint

When you deal with the eco-friendly packaging, you actually use sustainable materials or the ones that degrade with the passage of time. While the impact of green packaging is minimal on the environment, their characteristic of being sustainable allows these packaging supplies to be reused for packaging. It means that you might be using the recycled packaging if the use of such materials becomes industry standard in the packaging.